Chapter 49

Chapter 49

Pinned in Evan’s arms, Stella narrowed her eyes.

“ Let go. ”

Her voice was ice. No warmth. No hesitation.

So cold that he couldn’t even imagine how she might smile in front of Felix.

His grip tightened instinctively.

“ Stella, we’re not divorced. You’d better drop whatever ideas you’re entertaining. ”

“ You think I betrayed you? Then divorce me, ” she shot back. “ What ‘ ideas ‘ am I supposed to drop? I won’t. ”

Her tone was just as hard.

The way she said it – almost daring him to go through with it – made something dark flash in his eyes.

He let out a dangerous laugh. “ Divorce? Don’t even dream about it. ”

He wasn’t letting her go.

Hearing the certainty in his voice, Stella closed her eyes for half a second.

Then she drove her knee upward toward his most vulnerable spot.

He saw it coming.

His leg blocked hers effortlessly.

Frustrated, she glared up at him.

He suddenly scooped her up in his arms.

“ You vicious woman, ” he muttered. “ You break that, and you’ll be the one regretting it.

“ I’ll say this one last time, ” she said through clenched teeth. “ Let go. ”

The scent on his suit hit her again.

Summer.

It made her stomach turn.

Since when had Summer’s presence clung to him so completely? 1

Evan glanced down at her. “ Behave. ”

Stella shut her eyes briefly. “ I gave you a chance. ”

“ What? ”

Before he could process it, her arms – previously looped around his neck – tightened.

She slammed her forehead hard against his temple.

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+30 Bonus

A dull crack echoed between them.

Evan’s vision blurred instantly.

Pain exploded at his temple, sharp and disorienting.

“ Stella! ”

He dropped her reflexively, fury rising with the pain.

Strangely, she seemed unaffected.

Distance from Summer’s scent alone felt like relief.

She adjusted her bag and turned to leave.

He reacted fast and grabbed her again.

“ You crazy woman- ” He sucked in a breath. “ Damn … ”

His temple throbbed violently.

She looked down at his hand gripping her arm and gave a cold laugh.

“ Want to try again? ”

“ Fine. Hit me. Go ahead. Kill me today. ”

He was beyond furious.

After everything he’d done for her, she was trying to take his head off?

She swung her bag at him.

He winced. “ You- ”

When had she become so aggressive? She used to be gentle.

The little rabbit had grown claws.

“ Want me to prove it?” she challenged.

Men like Evan had grown up protected, praised, deferred to everywhere they went.

And here she was, pushing him past every boundary.

He stared at her, jaw tight.

“ Or maybe you really want to die, ” she continued coldly. “ Stand in front of my car. I promise I won’t miss. ‘

The way she said “ I won’t miss ” was frighteningly calm.

His molars ground together.

“ Fine. Let’s go. Run me over. ”

He grabbed her wrist and started dragging her forward.

And that was when Felix appeared.

Evan, already burning with anger, saw him and nearly exploded.

harply closer to his side in a silent display of possession.

a split second when she saw Felix.

mposed, she said politely,

Mr. Henderson. ”

Her tone was noticeably gentler than it had been with Evan.

And Evan heard it.